MCP vows to continue vigils

As one way of expressing dissatisfaction
of the May 21 poll results, Malawi Congress Party Supporters have vowed to
carry on with its post-election prayers.

This has been said by the partyâs
deputy publicity secretary Kondi Msungama after the police blocked the party
from conducting prayers at its regional offices as well as district offices in
Blantyre.

According to Msungama, what the
disgruntled MCP supporters are doing is their constitutional right and that
they will not be intimidated by anything in their quest to hold the âpeace prayers.â

However, the authorities are still
denying them to exercise their constitutional right despite them following
proper procedures to hold the prayers.

The
party wrote Malawi Police Service (MPS), Blantyre district commissioner (DC)
and Blantyre City Council (BCC) last Friday notifying them about the intention
to host the prayers at the two venues.

But
in his response on the same day, Blantyre DC Bennet Nkasala rejected the
request to hold the prayers, citing the prevailing political tension and security
concerns on the ground.

However,
the party followers proceeded to conduct prayers which were led by Pastor Omega
Phinifolo at their regional offices at Chichiri without any movement. Four
other clerics and a sheikh also offered their prayers.

In
her sermon, Phinifolo urged the MCP followers to remain calm and peaceful while
devoting everything in prayers until the âtruth on elections outcome is proved
by the courtsâ.

The
pastor stated that regardless of the duration the matter may take in court,
with prayers justice will still prevail.

In
an interview, Msungama said the prayers were meant to defuse the political
tension that has emerged following the disputed presidential election results.

âWe will continue gathering
peacefully and holding our prayers until dust settles and we have started
speaking with one voice.

âFortunately,
the disputed matters [presidential results] are already in court. We trust our
courtsâ independence but we will still continue holding these prayers until the
court determines our countryâs future,â he said.

Besides
MCP followers, the prayers were also attended by some members of Peoples Party
(PP) and UTM Party.

The
prayers were conducted amid an intimidating presence of over 60 heavily armed
and plain-clothed police officers who were packed in their vehicles that had
bordered the party regional offices.